Camera/video adaptation system, method, and kit for binocular indirect ophthalmoscope device

ABSTRACT

A system for retrofitting a legacy binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO) device with a camera includes an assembly with a mechanism for attaching to a mounting bracket of the BIO device in place of a teaching mirror. The assembly houses a beam splitter, which allows a portion of light from a viewing target to enter an entrance aperture of the BIO device while reflecting another portion of the light. A positioning mechanism positions the camera such that the light that is reflected by the beam splitter is directed to and captured by the camera to generate image data providing the same view(s) of the viewing target as presented via the BIO device. The image data is stored and/or wirelessly broadcast to viewing devices. The capture/storage functionality is activated via an actuator housed with a condensing lens for the BIO device and/or via a voice control module based on recognized voice commands.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/173,700, filed on Apr. 12, 2021, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ophthalmologists are medical specialists dealing with diagnosing andtreating the eyes of patients. One device routinely used byophthalmologists is the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope, which is anoptical device for examining the inside of the eye of the patient.Typically, the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO) is a head-mounteddevice that includes an illumination unit for providing white light andan optical system including a viewing aperture and an entrance aperturefor delivering image information (e.g. pertaining to the patient's eye)to the eye of a user. Among these binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes arelaser indirect ophthalmoscopes (LIOs), which, in addition to the viewingfunctionality, include additional components for treating the patient bydelivering laser energy to the patient's eye.

BIO devices often work in conjunction with a hand-held condensing ordiopter lens, which is held above the patient's eye while the doctorviews the eye, interposed in a line of sight between the entranceaperture of the BIO device and the viewing target. The condensing lensfocuses light reflected and scattered off of the patient's eye,presenting an inverted, magnified image in the line of sight of the BIOdevice, which is viewed by the doctor via the optical system of the BIOdevice. Commonly, these condensing lenses have a power of +20 diopter(D), but the power can generally range from +14D to +30D.

Teaching mirror adaptations for BIO devices allow the image that the BIOdevice presents to the user of the device (e.g. the doctor wearing theBIO device) to be simultaneously presented to one or more additionalobservers, such as other doctors or medical students. The teachingmirrors act as a beam splitter and include one or more partiallyreflecting (e.g., silvered) surfaces interposed between the lightcollected via the condensing lens and the entrance aperture of the BIOdevice, allowing a portion of the light from the condensing lens to passthrough the teaching mirror while reflecting the remaining light awayfrom the entrance aperture at an angle suitable for observers inproximity to the user of the device to view the same image that the usersees. Typically, the teaching mirrors are designed to be compatible withone or more particular BIO devices (e.g. designed and manufactured by aparticular entity, which might be the same entity designing andmanufacturing the compatible teaching mirror). In one example, the BIOdevices will having mounting brackets for mounting the compatibleteaching mirror to the BIO device, and the teaching mirror has anattachment mechanism that is configured to mate with or otherwise engagewith the mounting bracket such that the teaching mirror is secured tothe BIO device in a proper position for presenting the image of theviewing target to the additional observers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Current teaching mirror adaptations for BIO devices have somelimitations. Because the teaching mirrors reflect the image at staticangles with respect to the position and orientation of the BIO device,the additional observers must be at specific positions relative to thedevice to be within an observable range of the reflected light of theviewing target. These specific positions can be awkward oruncomfortable. Moreover, the number of potential additional observers islimited to a number of people who can physically occupy the areas withinthe observable range of the teaching mirror. For example, commonly, onlytwo observers can observe the BIO device user's view at any one time(e.g., one observer on each side).

Furthermore, it would be desirable to be able to document an examinationby capturing and retaining the image that was presented to the doctor(s)via the BIO device. The retained image data, including streaming videoand/or still images, could be used to document the patient's conditionbefore or after a treatment for inclusion in the patient's medicalrecord, to provide documentary evidence that treatments were performed,or to present the image data to a wider audience of additional observers(e.g. medical students) without requiring the additional observers to bephysically present at the examination and/or specifically positionedwithin the observable range provided by the teaching mirror.

BIO devices with integrated cameras for capturing images of the viewingtarget have been proposed, but these integrated devices have morecomplex design considerations for their optical systems and ofteninvolve cumbersome wired cameras connected to an external monitor.Additionally, the integrated camera and electronics add considerableweight to the device, offsetting the balance of the headset worn on thedoctor's head. These integrated devices are also costly formanufacturers to design and produce and costly for medical providers toacquire.

On the other hand, BIO devices are one of the more common devices usedby ophthalmologists, and many doctors or administrators could notjustify the cost of replacing these staple devices with the considerablymore expensive designs that have integrated cameras. Similarly, theteaching mirror is by far the most widely adopted teaching tool to date,being lightweight and relatively inexpensive.

The prevalence of existing legacy BIO devices in the field would make ithighly desirable to be able to retrofit the legacy devices with a cameraadaptation. Improvements in high resolution miniature cameras andwireless relay of image data, in conjunction with the prevalence on thelegacy devices of mounting brackets for conventional teaching mirrors,provide an inexpensive way to retrofit virtually any legacy BIO devicewith the desired image capture functionality, thus enabling morewidespread and comprehensive documentation of diagnosis and treatmentand providing more widely available opportunities to provide instructionto medical students and consult with other doctors.

To that end, the presently disclosed camera adaptation system, method,and kit for an IO device (e.g. BIO and/or LIO device) involves alightweight camera adaptation assembly that includes an attachmentmechanism for attaching to the mounting bracket (e.g., by clipping ontoor otherwise engaging with the compatible mounting bracket or any otherfeature of the legacy BIO device, or by deploying any mounting systemsor methods for mounting a teaching mirror that are compatible with thelegacy BIO device) of existing legacy BIO devices similarly to how aconventional teaching mirror would interface with the legacy device. Thecamera adaptation assembly comprises a beam splitter similar to that ofa traditional teaching mirror (e.g., with a partially reflective orsilvered mirror and/or dielectric coated mirror interposed between theviewing target and the entrance aperture of the legacy BIO device) and acamera optically interposed in the viewing path for the image reflectedby the beam splitter via a camera positioning mechanism. The positioningmechanism secures the camera in a position relative to the beam splittersuch that the light from the viewing target that would normally bedirected by the beam splitter to an additional observer, in atraditional teaching mirror setup, is instead (or additionally) directedto the camera, which captures image data of the viewing target thatprovides a view that is functionally identical to the image presented tothe user of the BIO device. The captured image data can be stored (e.g.,on removable nonvolatile memory such as an SD card) and/or wirelesslybroadcast as live streaming video and/or still images to one or moreviewing devices such as a television or mobile computing device.

In this way, the presently disclosed system replaces the currentindustry standard teaching mirror with a camera adaptation that iscompatible with tens of thousands of existing devices, converting thelegacy BIO device into a video teaching and documentation tool whileonly adding negligible weight to the headset worn by the doctor.

In general, the term legacy is used to describe BIO devices are havebeen previous sold and are being used by professionals. Anothercharacteristic is that the legacy BIO devices are made and sold by adifferent manufacturer than the camera adaptation system, method, andkit described herein.

The addition of image capture functionality to a legacy BIO device viathe presently disclosed system poses an additional challenge ofactuating the image data storage functionality without disrupting theexamination. For example, input from the doctor for capturing a stillimage of the current view provided by the legacy BIO device couldinterrupt the precise positioning and/or manipulation of the BIO deviceand condensing lens that is required to obtain the magnified image,causing the magnified image to be temporarily lost from the vantagepoint of the IO optics. Also, ideally the camera adaptation would notrequire an additional operator to activate storage of the image data.

Thus, the presently disclosed camera adaptation system comprises anactuator assembly that secures the condensing lens in a common housingwith an actuator module. The actuator module receives input from theuser of the BIO device and condensing lens via an activation mechanism(e.g., a membrane switch) and, based on the received input, wirelesslysends to the image viewing device and/or the camera an activation signalfor activating storage of the image data in non-volatile memory. In oneexample, the actuator assembly includes a lens holder componentconfigured to receive an existing condensing lens or otherwise house adedicated, built-in lens, the lens holder comprising a finger activatedswitch on an exterior surface positioned such that the switch is easilyaccessible to the doctor when they are manipulating the lens to producethe magnified image. The switch can be configured to only activate basedon a predetermined input threshold specifically designed to avoidexcessive movement or displacement of the condensing lens when enteringthe input and/or to distinguish input intended to actuate the camerafrom incidental input resulting from normal manipulation of thecondensing lens by the doctor during an examination. For example, theactuation module can be configured to generate the activation signalonly when a button or membrane switch is depressed with a predeterminedamount of pressure that is sufficiently large to avoid accidentalactivation but also sufficiently small to avoid undesired movement ofthe condensing lens when the button is pressed. In another example, theactuation module can be configured to generate the activation signalonly when a particular predetermined motion or manipulation of thecondensing lens is detected by the actuation module.

Moreover, according to another embodiment, the camera adaptation systemdoes not require a beam splitter. Instead, the camera positioningmechanism secures the camera in a position with respect to the BIOoptics (e.g., close to the entrance aperture or viewing aperture of theBIO optics) such that light from the viewing target is captured by thecamera directly or via the BIO optics along a substantially similarviewing path as that of the light reflected from the viewing target intothe BIO entrance aperture. In this way, the risk of reflections (forboth the camera and user of the BIO device) caused by the beam splitteris reduced, and an improved color clarity (for both the camera and userof the BIO device) is possible. In the latter case, color clarity is animportant factor for diagnostics that are based on slight changes incoloration in the viewing target.

In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a system forretrofitting a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device with a camera/videoadaptation. The system comprises a beam splitter (e.g. comprising one ormore partially silvered mirrors and/or dielectric coated mirrors), acamera, and a housing. The beam splitter allows a portion of light froma viewing target to enter an entrance aperture of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope while reflecting another portion of the light from theviewing target. The camera captures the reflected portion of the light.The assembly houses the beam splitter and the camera and comprises anattachment mechanism for attaching to the legacy indirect ophthalmoscopedevice.

In embodiments, the system further comprises a control module forreceiving captured image data from the camera. The control modulecomprises a wireless interface for broadcasting the captured image data(e.g., as live streaming video and/or still images) to an image viewingdevice having a display for displaying the captured image data. Thecontrol module and/or the image viewing device also include non-volatilememory for storing the captured image data.

A power source for the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope might also supplypower to the camera via a power cable, a splitter, and one or more powerinterfaces.

The assembly comprises a camera positioning mechanism, which secures thecamera in a position with respect to the beam splitter such that thereflected portion of light is directed to the camera.

An actuator module for activating the capture and storage of the imagedata in non-volatile memory comprises an activation mechanism forreceiving input from a user, the actuator module activating the storageof the image data in non-volatile memory by generating activationsignals based on the received user input. The actuator module mightcomprise a wireless interface for wirelessly transmitting the activationsignals to a control module and/or an image viewing device, with thecontrol module and/or image viewing device storing the captured imagedata in non-volatile memory in response to receiving the wirelessactivation signals from the actuator module. An actuator assembly housesthe actuator module together with a condensing lens operated by theuser.

Similarly, a voice control module of the system activates the captureand storage of image data captured via the camera in non-volatile memorybased on voice commands recognized by the voice control module in audiodata captured via a microphone of the system. The microphone could beembedded into any component of the retrofit system/kit or BIO system,including the image viewing device and/or the actuator module, or themicrophone could be an external microphone that connects via a wired orwireless connection to any control panel or user interface component ofthe system.

The attachment mechanism is specifically configured to be compatiblewith a mounting bracket or other method for attaching a teaching mirroradaptation to the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a methodfor retrofitting a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device with a cameraadaptation. An assembly housing a beam splitter and a camera is attachedto the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device via an attachment mechanismof the assembly. The beam splitter allows a portion of light from aviewing target to enter an entrance aperture of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope and reflects another portion of the light from theviewing target, which is captured via the camera.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a cameraadaptation retrofit kit for a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device.Similar to the previously described system, the kit comprises the beamsplitter, which allows a portion of light from a viewing target to enteran entrance aperture of the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope and reflectsanother portion of the light from the viewing target, the camera forcapturing the reflected portion of the light from the viewing target,and the assembly for housing the beam splitter and the camera.Additionally, the kit comprises a plurality of interchangeableattachment mechanisms for attaching the assembly to the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device. Each of these interchangeable attachmentmechanisms is configured to be compatible with a different type ofmounting bracket for attaching a teaching mirror adaptation to a legacyindirect ophthalmoscope device.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a systemfor retrofitting a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device with a cameraadaptation. The system comprises an assembly comprising an attachmentmechanism for attaching to the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device anda camera for capturing images from a viewing target of the legacyindirect ophthalmoscope device.

In some examples, a mirror is provided for reflecting light from theviewing target to the camera.

Generally, an angle between a viewing direction of the camera and anoptical axis defined by an optical system of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device is less than 20 degrees.

The above and other features of the invention including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages,will now be more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will beunderstood that the particular method and device embodying the inventionare shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of theinvention. The principles and features of this invention may be employedin various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarilyto scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating theprinciples of the invention. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope (10)device, to which the present invention is applicable;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with a camera adaptation according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram providing a more detailed view ofthe retrofit system of FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram providing a more detailed view ofthe retrofit system of FIGS. 2 and 3, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram providing a more detailed view ofthe retrofit system of FIG. 5, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the system for retrofitting thelegacy BIO device with the camera adaptation, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the system for retrofitting the legacyBIO device with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrativeembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Further, the singular formsand the articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms: includes, comprises, including and/orcomprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. Further, it will be understood that when anelement, including component or subsystem, is referred to and/or shownas being connected or coupled to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

The present invention concerns a system, method, and kit forretrofitting legacy indirect ophthalmoscope (IO) devices with a cameraadaptation.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an IO device 100 to which the presentinvention is applicable. In general, the IO device 100 is an opticaldevice for examining a viewing target such as the inside of an eye of apatient 10. The IO device 100 is specifically a legacy device, whichgenerally means that the IO device is an ophthalmoscope that was notmanufactured with a camera or image capture functionality and is to beenhanced and retrofitted with such functionality according to thepresent invention. These legacy IO devices include relatively old and/orused devices as well as new devices equipped with standard viewing butnot image capture functionality. A user of the legacy IO device istypically a doctor such as an ophthalmologist. In the illustratedexample, the legacy IO device is a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope(BIO) device. In one example, the legacy IO device to which the presentinvention is applicable can also be a laser indirect ophthalmoscope(LIO), which, in addition to the viewing functionality, includesadditional components for treating the patient by delivering laserenergy to the patient's eye 10.

The legacy BIO device includes an illumination unit 110 for providingwhite light and an optical system 112 including one or more viewingapertures and an entrance aperture for image information e.g., forviewing the patient's eye. The legacy BIO device 100 also includes awearable assembly, which secures the legacy BIO device to the user'sbody via one or more wearable objects. In the illustrated example, thewearable assembly comprises a headset 114, which is worn on the user'shead 12.

Legacy BIO devices typically function in cooperation with a hand-heldcondensing or diopter lens 116, which is held above the patient's eye 10while the doctor views the eye, interposed in a line of sight betweenthe entrance aperture of the BIO device and the viewing target. The userof the legacy BIO device positions and manipulates the condensing lens116 such that the condensing lens focuses light reflected and scatteredoff of the viewing target and presents an often inverted, magnifiedimage in a viewing path of the legacy BIO device, which is viewed by thedoctor via the optical system of the BIO device. Commonly, thesecondensing lenses have a power of +20 diopter (D), but the power cangenerally range from +14D to +30D.

During normal operation, the legacy BIO device illuminates the viewingtarget (e.g., by emitting light via the illumination unit 110 anddirecting the emitted light along an illumination path 118 toward theviewing target via the optical system 112). The light is then reflectedand scattered by the viewing target through the condensing lens, intothe entrance aperture 120 from the viewing direction or optical axisdefined by the optics of optical system 112, and through the opticalsystem, which directs the light to an eye of the user of the legacy BIOdevice. In this way, the legacy BIO device presents an image of theviewing target to the user.

Many legacy BIO devices comprise mounting brackets or other methods forattaching a compatible teaching mirror to the legacy BIO device.

In general, the teaching mirror is an adaptation for the legacy BIOdevice allowing the image that the legacy BIO device presents to theuser to be simultaneously presented to one or more additional observers,such as other doctors or medical students. The teaching mirror assembly150 comprises a beam splitter 156 (e.g., one or more partiallyreflective or silvered mirrors and/or dielectric coated mirrors) housedin a common assembly with an attachment mechanism 152. The attachmentmechanism 152 secures the teaching mirror assembly 150 to the legacy BIOdevice 100 by mating with or otherwise engaging the mounting bracket 154of the legacy BIO device (e.g., sliding the teaching mirror into themounting bracket, clipping the teaching mirror to the mounting bracket,or generally deploying any compatible method) such that the beamsplitter 156 is interposed between the viewing target 10 and theentrance aperture 120 of the legacy BIO device, allowing a portion ofthe light from the viewing target 10 and/or condensing lens 116 to passthrough the teaching mirror 150 and into the entrance aperture 120 ofthe BIO device 100 while reflecting another portion of the light awayfrom the entrance aperture and toward additional observers in proximityto the user of the device (see arrows 160, 162).

More particularly, the beam splitter 156 reflects a portion of the lightaway from the entrance aperture 120 such that viewing paths 160, 162 aremade available to the additional observers for viewing the same image ofthe viewing target that the user is viewing via the optical system. Saidanother way, some of the light returning form the viewing target alongviewing direction or optical axis defined by the optics of opticalsystem 112 is reflected in the direction of the two viewing paths 160,162. The range of positions at which the additional observers have aviewing path to the image of the viewing target is based on theparticular configuration and/or structure of the teaching mirror. A beamsplitter common configuration includes two glass plates A, B joinedalong a common edge 158 to form an angle that is typically greater than90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. When the teaching mirror assembly150 is attached to the legacy BIO device, the plates A, B are securedover the entrance aperture with the common edge 158 between the twoplates roughly centered (with respect to the entrance aperture) andsecured a predetermined distance outward from a plane containing theentrance aperture, the common edge being along a line that is parallelwith the plane containing the entrance aperture. The plates' edges thatare opposite from the common edge between the plates are positioned oneither side of the entrance aperture at a shorter distance outward(relative to the common edge) from the plane containing the entranceaperture. The surfaces of the plates A, B that face away from theentrance aperture and toward the viewing target are partially reflectiveor silvered. This configuration provides viewing paths 160, 162 foradditional observers who are positioned roughly on either side of theuser of the BIO device to view the magnified image of the viewingtarget.

In this way, the teaching mirror assembly 150 presents the same image ofthe viewing target that is presented to the user of the legacy BIOdevice to the additional observers.

Typically, teaching mirrors are designed to be compatible with one ormore particular legacy BIO devices (e.g. designed and manufactured by aparticular entity, which might be the same entity designing andmanufacturing the compatible teaching mirror). In the illustratedexample, the teaching mirror assembly 150 that is compatible with thelegacy BIO device 100 comprises an attachment mechanism 152 that iscompatible with the mounting brackets 154 of the legacy BIO device,meaning that the attachment mechanism of the teaching mirror assembly150 is configured to mate with or otherwise engage with the mountingbracket such that the teaching mirror is secured to the BIO device in aproper position for presenting the image of the viewing target to theadditional observers. At the same time, the teaching mirror assembly canbe unclipped or otherwise disengaged from the BIO device 100 when notneeded. Compatibility between the teaching mirror 150 and the legacy BIOdevice 100 can also be based on factors other than the attachmentmechanism and mounting bracket, including the sizes and shapes of boththe legacy BIO device and the teaching mirror, among other examples.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a system 200 for retrofitting a legacy BIOdevice with a camera adaptation according to the present invention.

The legacy BIO device functions in the same way and has the samefeatures and characteristics as the legacy BIO device described withrespect to FIG. 1. Now, however, the legacy BIO device 100 isretrofitted with the camera adaptation to augment the teaching mirrorassembly.

In general, the camera adaptation comprises an attachable assembly 152,a beam splitter 156, a camera 210, a control module 212, and a cameraactuator module 214.

The assembly houses the beam splitter 152 and the camera 210 together inor on a common housing. The assembly comprises an attachment mechanism152 and a camera positioning mechanism 220.

In general, the camera has a focus of between approximately. 35centimeters (cm) and 60 cm as this covers most of the typical workingdistances used. Preferably, the camera also has autofocus capabilities,such as voice coil driven focusing or liquid lens camera objective lens.The most important thing is that it is “fast and accurate”. Also, itsresolution should preferably be for example 1920×1200 pixels, or higher.

The beam splitter 156 functions in the same way and has the samefeatures and characteristics as the beam splitter for the teachingmirror as described with respect to FIG. 1. To briefly summarize, thebeam splitter 156 comprises one or more partially reflective or silveredmirrors and/or a dielectric coated mirrors A, B, which allows a portionof light from the viewing target to enter the entrance aperture 120 ofthe legacy BIO device 100 while reflecting another portion of the lightfrom the viewing target away from the entrance aperture and toward thecamera 210 and/or additional observers. That is, the camera ispositioned to collect light from the viewing paths 160, 162 so that thecamera captures images of the viewing target that the user 12 is viewingvia the optical system. Said another way, some of the light returningform the viewing target along viewing direction or optical axis definedby the optics of optical system 112 is reflected to the camera 210.

In general, the camera captures the light that was reflected by the beamsplitter and generates image data, including streaming video data and/orstill images, based on the captured light.

The attachment mechanism 152 functions largely in the same way and hasthe same features and characteristics as the attachment mechanism forthe teaching mirror as described with respect to FIG. 1. Now, however,the compatible attachment mechanism secures or attaches the cameraassembly to the legacy BIO device 100 in place of the teaching mirrorassembly. The attachment mechanism 152 is configured to be compatiblewith the mounting bracket 154 of the legacy BIO device for attaching ateaching mirror assembly to the legacy BIO device.

The camera positioning mechanism 220 secures the camera 210 in aposition with respect to the beam splitter 156 (or the partiallysilvered mirror of the beam splitter) such that the portion of lightreflected by the beam splitter 156 away from the entrance aperture 120is directed to the camera. More specifically, the camera positioningmechanism 220 is configured to secure the camera 210 in a viewing pathof the image depicting the viewing target that is presented to ahypothetical additional observer via the beam splitter such that thecamera captures specifically the light that was reflected or scatteredoff of the viewing target 10, transmitted through the condensing lens116, and reflected off of the beam splitter 156, such a plate A. In thisway, the camera positioning mechanism 220 enables the camera 210 togenerate image data depicting the viewing target 10 with the same viewof the viewing target that is presented to the user of the legacy BIOdevice 100. This camera view can be displayed as streaming video and/orstill images on a viewing device 230.

In the illustrated embodiment, the camera actuator module 214 activatescapture and storage of image data, including streaming video and/orstill images, by generating activation signals based on input receivedfrom the user and wirelessly transmitting the activation signals to theimage viewing device 230 via a wireless communication link between thecamera actuator module and the image viewing device and/or a wirelesscommunication link between the camera actuator module and the controlmodule 212. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the image datastorage functionality can be activated by other means, including voicecontrol, a footswitch, and/or a wired and/or wireless actuator held by auser of the legacy BIO device (e.g., in a different hand than thecondensing lens).

The control module 212 directs the image capture functionality of thecamera 210 by sending a control signal to the camera that causes thecamera to generate the image data depicting the viewing target (e.g., inresponse to the control module being powered on or placed into a videocapture mode by a user, among other examples). The control module 212also receives the captured image data from the camera and wirelesslybroadcasts the captured image data (e.g., as live streaming video) toone or more subscribed image viewing devices 230 via a wirelesscommunications link between the control module 212 and the image viewingdevice(s) 230.

In general, the image viewing device displays the captured image data toadditional observers, for example, by rendering the captured image data(e.g., as a live video stream and/or as still images) on a display 232,such as a touchscreen display, of the image viewing device. The imageviewing device can be a television or a computing device. Preferably,the image viewing device is a mobile computing device such as a tablet,smartphone device, laptop computer, or phablet computer (i.e., a mobiledevice that is typically larger than a smart phone, but smaller than atablet), to list a few examples.

In this way, the illustrated system retrofits the legacy BIO device withthe camera adaptation using the existing mounting bracket of the legacyBIO device and an attachment mechanism of the camera adaptation assemblythat is configured to be compatible with the existing mounting bracket,thus enhancing the legacy BIO device with additional image capture anddisplay functionality beyond its original viewing functionality.

In the illustrated example, only a single attachment mechanism 152 isshown, namely the one that is compatible with the particular mountingbracket 154 of the legacy BIO device 100 and secures the cameraadaptation assembly to the legacy BIO device.

According to another implementation, a retrofit kit provided along withcamera adaptation assembly 205 includes a plurality of interchangeableattachment mechanisms, each of which is configured to be compatible witha different type of mounting bracket from a different LIO manufacturerfor attaching a teaching mirror adaptation to a legacy indirectophthalmoscope device. Thus, in the illustrated example, a retrofit kitmight comprise any number of additional interchangeable attachmentmechanisms (not illustrated) that are not compatible with theillustrated legacy BIO device but are compatible with other legacy BIOdevices (not illustrated) that are of a different type than theillustrated device. In another example, the retrofit kit might compriseany number of additional interchangeable camera adaptation assembliesthat are not compatible with the illustrated legacy BIO device, but eachof which is compatible with a different type of legacy BIO device,including being configured with different sizes and shapes suited todifferent types of legacy BIO devices and/or having different attachmentmechanisms compatible with mounting brackets of different types oflegacy BIO devices.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram providing a more detailed view of theretrofit system illustrated in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

Components of the camera adaptation assembly 202, control module 212,the actuator module 214, and the image viewing device 230 are shown.

The assembly 202 houses the control module 212, the beam splitter 156,and the camera 210 and comprises the camera positioning mechanism 220and the attachment mechanism 152, all of which have been previouslydescribed. To briefly summarize, the attachment mechanism 152 isconfigured to be compatible with the teaching mirror mounting bracket154 of the legacy BIO device 100 and secures the camera adaptationassembly 202 to the legacy BIO device 100 in place of the teachingmirror. The control module 212 activates the camera 210 to capture imagedata and broadcasts the captured image data (e.g., as live streamingvideo) to the image viewing device 230. The beam splitter (e.g.,partially reflective or silvered mirror and/or dielectric coated mirror)156 allows a portion of light from the viewing target 10 (via thecondensing lens 116) to enter the optical system 112 of the legacy BIOdevice 110 via the entrance aperture while reflecting another portion ofthe light from the viewing target away from the entrance aperture andtoward the camera 210 and/or additional observers. The camerapositioning mechanism 205 secures the camera 210 in a position withrespect to the beam splitter 156 such that the portion of lightreflected by the beam splitter away from the entrance aperture isdirected to the camera. The camera 210 captures the light that wasreflected by the beam splitter and generates image data (e.g., videodata depicting a live, real-time view of the viewing target) based onthe captured light.

The assembly additionally houses a power module 308. The power module308 includes a battery 310, which supplies the power provided to thecontrol module 108 and the camera 112. Among other functions, the powermodule 110 performs the functions of a battery management system (e.g.preventing the battery from operating outside its Safe Operating Area,monitoring its state, etc.).

The control module 212 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 302such as a microcontroller, non-volatile memory such as a removable SDcard interface and card, and a wireless interface 304, which includes anantenna 312. In general, the CPU 302 directs the functionality of thecontrol module 212, for example, via various processes executing on theCPU 302, including an image capture process and a video broadcastprocess. The image capture process directs the image capturefunctionality of the camera 210 by sending control signals to the camera210 (e.g., in response to the control module being powered on or placedinto a video capture mode by a user, among other examples), causing thecamera 210 to generate image data. The video broadcast processbroadcasts the captured image data, including video data depicting alive, real-time view of the viewing target, to the image viewing devicevia the wireless interface 304 and the antenna 312.

The actuator module 214 comprises an activation mechanism 216 and awireless interface 314. The actuator module 214 receives user input viathe activation mechanism 216 (e.g. a switch, membrane switch, or button)and in response to the user input, the actuator module 214 activatesimage storage functionality such as still image capture (e.g., captureand storage by the image viewing device of a still image depicting acurrent view of the viewing target) by generating activation signals andwirelessly transmitting the activation signals to the image viewingdevice 230 via the wireless interface 314 and antenna 316. In oneembodiment, the camera actuator module 214 is configured to onlygenerate the activation signals based on a predetermined input thresholdfor avoiding excessive movement or displacement of the condensing lenswhen entering the input and/or for distinguishing input intended toactuate the camera 210 from incidental input resulting from normalmanipulation of the condensing lens by the user. In one example, theactuation module 216 is configured to generate the activation signalonly when a button or membrane switch is depressed with a predeterminedamount of pressure that is sufficiently large to avoid accidentalactivation but also sufficiently small to avoid undesired movement ofthe condensing lens when the button is pressed. In another example, theactuation module is configured to generate the activation signal onlywhen a particular predetermined motion or manipulation of the condensinglens is detected by the actuation module (e.g., via a motion sensor).Such motion detection is provided by a three axis accelerometer forexample that is part of the actuator module 214.

An actuator assembly houses the actuator module 214 together with thecondensing lens 116 operated by the user of the legacy BIO device 100.In one example, the actuator assembly includes a lens holder componentconfigured to receive an existing condensing lens or otherwise house adedicated, built-in lens, the lens holder comprising a finger activatedswitch on an exterior surface positioned such that the switch is easilyaccessible to the user of the legacy BIO device when the user ismanipulating the lens to produce the magnified image of the viewingtarget.

The image viewing device 230 comprises a CPU 322, a display 330,non-volatile memory, and a wireless interface 220 and antenna 218. TheCPU 222 executes firmware/operating system instructions and sendsinstructions and data to and receives data from the wireless interface220, the non-volatile memory, and the display 232. Executing ontypically an operating system (OS) 324 of the CPU 322 are a mobileapplication 326, an image storage process 327, and an image displayprocess 228. The mobile application 326 renders a graphical userinterface (GUI) 332 on the display 232, which is, for example, a touchscreen display. The GUI 332 generally displays information and receivesuser input and includes components (e.g., panes, screens, windows) fordisplaying the captured image data, including live streaming video. Theimage display process 328 receives the captured image data from thecontrol module 212 via the wireless interface 320 and antenna 318 andrenders the captured image data on the display 232 via the GUI 332 aslive streaming video or still images. The image storage process 327stores the captured image data received from the control module 212 tothe non-volatile memory (e.g., a removable SD card) based on theactivation signals received from the actuator module 214. In oneexample, the image storage process 327 generates still images depictingthe current view of the viewing target (the current view presented tothe legacy BIO device user and/or a current frame of the streaming videodisplayed by the image viewing device) in response to receiving theactivation signal from the actuator module and then stores the stillimages in the non-volatile memory to be retrieved (e.g., via searchfunctionality) and/or immediately displays the captured image data. Inanother example, the image storage process generates image data (e.g., adigital video file containing a portion of the live video broadcast fromthe control module) based on the activation signals and stores the videofile to the non-volatile memory.

In the illustrated example, the image viewing device 230 is a mobilecomputing device such as a tablet computer.

The wireless network interfaces 304, 314, 320 facilitate communication(e.g., transmission of the activation signals from the actuator module214 to the image viewing device 230 and/or control module 212, broadcastof the captured image data to the image viewing device 230) via therespective antennas 312, 316, 318 through wireless communication linksaccording to wireless personal area network (WPAN) or wireless localarea network (WLAN) protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) orWiFi, among other examples.

In one example, in addition to the image viewing device 230 displayingthe captured image data and storing the image data based on signals fromthe actuator module 214, the image storage process 327 also stores thecaptured image data based on input received via the mobile application326 and/or the GUI 332 from a user of the image viewing device. In thisway, the image viewing device enables the additional observers using theimage viewing device to capture their own images, documentation, orvideo depicting the viewing target.

In another example, the control module 212 broadcasts the captured imagedata to one or more additional observers, who are remote from the areaor even remote from the premises where the user of the legacy BIO deviceis performing the examination, via local area networks, enterprisenetworks, and/or wide area networks such as the internet. In this way,the retrofit kit 200 enables remote training sessions and/or remoteconsultation with other doctors.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the system for retrofitting the legacy BIOdevice with the camera adaptation, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

The retrofit system is similar to the embodiment described with respectto FIGS. 2 and 3. As before, the system comprises the camera adaptationassembly 202 attached to the legacy BIO device 100 in place of theteaching mirror and the camera actuator module 214 in a common housingwith the condensing lens 116. The beam splitter 156, camera 210, camerapositioning mechanism 205, camera actuator module 214, and image viewingdevice 230 largely function in the same way and have the same featuresand characteristics as the respective components as described withrespect to FIGS. 1, 2, and/or 3.

Now, however, instead of interfacing with the image viewing device 230,the actuator module 214 interfaces with the control module 212 via awireless communication link between the actuator module 214 and thecontrol module 212. In this case, an image storage process 340 executingon the CPU 302 of the control module 212 receives the captured imagedata from the camera 210 in response to receiving the activation signalsfrom the actuator module 214 and stores the image data to thenon-volatile memory 346, which is now part of the control module 212. Inone example, the control module 212 both broadcasts the live streamingvideo depicting the viewing target to the image viewing device via thevideo broadcast process 342 and captures and stores still images and/orvideo data using image capture process 344 and image storage process 340based on the activation signals from the actuator module 214. In thisway, the wireless communication link between the control module 212 andthe actuator module 214 enables the user of the legacy BIO device tocapture still images and/or videos that can be associated with patientinformation (e.g., confidential identification, diagnosis, and/ortreatment information) and stored as a medical record or documentationin a patient file (e.g., via the removable SD card of the control module212) while a live video stream without any confidential patientinformation is also simultaneously broadcast to the image viewing devicefor educational purposes.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the system 200 for retrofitting the legacyBIO device 100 with the camera adaptation, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

The retrofit system 200 is similar to the embodiment described withrespect to FIG. 2. As before, the system comprises the camera adaptationassembly 202 attached to the legacy BIO device in place of the teachingmirror and the camera actuator module 214 in a common housing with thecondensing lens 116. The beam splitter 156, camera 210, camerapositioning mechanism 220, camera actuator module, and image viewingdevice 230 all function in the same way and have the same features andcharacteristics as the respective components as described with respectto FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and/or 4.

Now, however, the control module 212 has its own assembly distinct fromthe camera adaptation assembly 202 that houses the beam splitter andcamera. The control module assembly 212 comprises an attachmentmechanism such as a clip or Velcro for attaching the control moduleassembly to the wearable assembly 114 (e.g., headset) of the legacy BIOdevice 100. In the illustrated example, the control module is connectedto the camera via a wired power and communication link 250.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the system for retrofitting the legacy BIOdevice 100 with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention. The illustrated embodiment eliminates the needto recharge or replace a battery by taking advantage of a common featureof legacy BIO devices, namely an external power source providing powerand/or control signals to the illumination unit and a power interface ofthe legacy BIO device.

The retrofit system is similar to the embodiment described with respectto FIG. 2. As before, the system comprises the camera adaptationassembly attached to the legacy BIO device in place of the teachingmirror and the camera actuator module in a common housing with thecondensing lens. The beam splitter 156, camera 210, camera positioningmechanism 220, camera actuator module 214, control module 212, and imageviewing device 230 all function in the same way and have the samefeatures and characteristics as the respective components as describedwith respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and/or 5.

Now, however, the control module 212 and camera 210 receive power froman external power source 252 that also provides power to theillumination unit 110 of the legacy BIO device 100. A splitter 254interposed between the power source 252 and the illumination unit 110taps the power provided to the illumination unit, directing a portion ofthe power to the camera adaptation assembly 205 via a power cable 250(e.g., telephone cable) providing a wired power link.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram providing a more detailed view of theretrofit system illustrated in FIG. 6, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

The various components of the assembly, actuator module, and imageviewing device function in the same way and have the same features andcharacteristics as the respective components described with respect toFIGS. 3 and/or 4.

Now, however, instead of a power module, the assembly comprises a powerinterface 258 for receiving external power to power the control module212 and the camera 210. A splitter 254 is interposed between theexternal power source 252 and the legacy BIO device 100, receiving thepower from the external power source via an input port, directing aportion of the power to the control module 212 and camera 210 via afirst output port of the splitter and the power interface 258 of thecamera adaptation assembly, and directing the remaining power to thelegacy BIO device 100 via a second output port and a power interface 260of the legacy BIO device.

In this way, the illustrated embodiment enables the camera adaptation todraw power from the legacy BIO device's power source.

In the illustrated examples of FIGS. 2 and 5, the beam splitter isconfigured similarly to how a typical teaching mirror with two channelssuch as that illustrated in FIG. 1 would be configured. For example, thebeam splitter comprises two glass plates with partially reflectiveand/or silvered mirrors, one of which directs the reflected light towardthe camera and the other of which directs the reflected light toadditional observers.

However, it should be noted that a second channel (e.g., the channelthat does not direct the reflected light directly to the additionalobservers) is not necessary.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the system for retrofitting the legacy BIOdevice with the camera adaptation, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, in which the beam splitter 156 has only a singlechannel, one glass plate A that directs the reflected light to thecamera 210. The retrofit system 200 is similar to the embodimentdescribed with respect to FIG. 2. As before, the system comprises thecamera adaptation assembly 205 attached to the legacy BIO device 100 inplace of the teaching mirror and the camera actuator module 214 in acommon housing with the condensing lens 116. The camera 210, camerapositioning mechanism 220, camera actuator module, control module 212,and image viewing device 230 all function in the same way and have thesame features and characteristics as the respective components asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and/or 7.

Now, however, the beam splitter 156 is specifically a single-channelbeam splitter plate A, comprising only one partially reflective orsilvered mirror or dielectric coated mirror. The single-channel beamsplitter 156 allows a portion of the light from the viewing target topass into the entrance aperture 120 and into the BIO optical system 112while reflecting another portion of the light from the viewing targettoward the camera 210. In the illustrated example, the single partiallyreflective glass mirror A that directs the light toward the cameraoccupies the same position with respect to the entrance aperture of thelegacy BIO device as the analogous component of the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. On the other hand, the position that wasoccupied by a second partially reflective mirror in the previousembodiments is now not occupied by a second mirror. As a result, theportion of the light from the viewing target that, in the previousembodiments, would have been reflected by the second mirror directlytoward additional observers now passes into the entrance aperturewithout being partially reflected by the beam splitter.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the system for retrofitting the legacy BIOdevice 100 with the camera adaptation, according to another embodimentof the present invention.

The retrofit system is similar to the embodiment described with respectto FIGS. 2 and 3. As before, the system comprises the camera adaptationassembly 202 attached to the legacy BIO device 20 in place of theteaching mirror and the condensing lens 116. The system also optionallycomprises the camera actuator module 214 in a common housing with thecondensing lens. The beam splitter 156, camera 210, camera positioningmechanism 220, camera actuator module, and image viewing device largelyfunction in the same way and have the same features and characteristicsas the respective components as described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2,and/or 3.

Now, however, the image/video data capture and storage functionality canbe activated by voice control instead of or in addition to beingactivated via the actuator module. In general, the system according tothis embodiment comprises a microphone 334 and a voice control module329. The microphone 334 captures sound including spoken voice commandsfrom the user indicating capture, display, and/or storage of image dataand/or possibly a wake word, which are then converted to audio data. Thevoice control module 329 generates voice command information based onthe captured audio data. In one example, the voice control module 339recognizes spoken language in the audio data and translates the spokenlanguage to commands that can be interpreted and/or executed by thevarious processes executing on the control module 212 and/or the mobilecomputing device 230, including the image/video capture process 344,image storage process 340, image display process 328, and/or videobroadcast process 342.

More particularly, the voice control module 329 activates capture,display, and/or storage of image data, including streaming video and/orstill images, by generating voice command information based on voiceinput received from the user via the microphone 334. The voice controlmodule 329 receives audio data from the microphone 334 depictingcaptured sound (e.g., spoken language from the user, including knownphrases associated with particular voice commands). The voice controlmodule 329, for example via speech recognition processes, recognizes theknown phrases in the audio data and translates the phrases into thevoice commands indicating capture, display, and/or storage of imagedata. The voice control module 329 then sends the voice commandinformation to the image capture process, video broadcast process, imagedisplay process, and/or image storage process to be executed.Preferably, the image storage process stores captured image data to thenon-volatile memory in response to receiving particular voice commandinformation from the voice control process 329 based on particular knownphrases detected and recognized by the voice control process 329.Similarly, in response to receiving particular voice command informationfrom the voice control process 329, the image capture process sends thecontrol signals to the camera 210, causing the camera 210 to generateimage data, the video broadcast process broadcasts the captured imagedata, including video data depicting a live, real-time view of theviewing target, and/or the image display process 329 renders thecaptured image data on the display 232 via the GUI 332 as live streamingvideo or still images.

In one example, the image storage process 340 generates, stores, and/ordisplays still images, as previously described, in response to receivingfrom the voice control process 329 voice command information indicatinga command to capture/store still images. This voice command informationfor capturing/storing the still images is generated by the voice controlprocess 329 in response to detecting and recognizing in the capturedaudio data a known phrase associated with the command forcapturing/storing still images (e.g., “capture”). Optionally, the voicecontrol process 329 only generates the command for capturing/storing thestill images while in an image capture mode, which is, in turn,activated and deactivated by the voice control process 329 in responseto detecting and recognizing in the audio data known phrases associatedwith commands for activating and deactivating, respectively, the imagecapture mode (e.g., “begin image capture,” “stop image capture”). Inthis case, if the system is not in the image capture mode (e.g., beforea “begin image capture” voice command has been received or after a “stopimage capture” voice command has been received), the voice controlprocess 329 ignores the voice commands for capturing/storing stillimages. For example, to begin a listening session or sequence forcapturing/storing still images, the user might say, “begin imagecapture,” in response to which the voice control process 329 activatesthe image capture mode. The user would then say “capture” to generateand store a still image. The “capture” voice command could be usedmultiple times during the listening session to record multiple images.The user would then say, “stop image capture” to end the listeningsequence, in response to which the voice control process 329 deactivatesthe image capture mode, after which the voice control process 238ignores any subsequent “capture” voice commands detected and recognized.

In a similar example, the image storage process generates and storesvideo image data, as previously described, in response to receiving fromthe voice control process 329 voice command information indicatingcommands to record video. This voice command information for recordingthe video is generated by the voice control process 329 in response todetecting and recognizing in the captured audio data known phrasesassociated with the commands for recording video (e.g., “start video,”“stop video”). Here, a first command (e.g., “start video”) indicates thedesired start of video recording, and a second command (e.g., “stopvideo”) indicates the desired termination of video recording, such thatan extent or duration of the resulting video image data stored by theimage storage process corresponds to a duration of time starting whenthe first command is received and ending when the second command isreceived. Optionally, the voice control process 329 only generates thecommands for recording video while in a video recording mode, which is,in turn, activated by the voice control process 329 in response todetecting and recognizing in the audio data a known phrase associatedwith a command for activating the video recording mode (e.g., “recordvideo) and deactivated by the voice control process 329 in response todetecting and recognizing the second command for terminating videorecording (e.g., “stop video”) or another command specifically forending the video recording mode. In other words, the command forterminating a particular video recording can be the same as that fordeactivating the video recording mode. In this case, if the system isnot in the video recording mode (e.g., before a “video record” voicecommand has been received or after a “stop video” voice command has beenreceived), the voice control process 329 ignores the voice commands forrecording video. For example, to begin a listening session or sequencefor recording video, the user might say, “record video,” in response towhich the voice control process 329 activates the video recording mode.The user would then say “start video” to begin recording. The user wouldthen say, “stop video” to both terminate the current recording and tostop the listening sequence, in response to which the voice controlprocess 238 deactivates the video recording mode, after which the voicecontrol process 238 ignores any subsequent “start video” voice commandsdetected and recognized.

In the illustrated example, the voice control module 329 executes on theCPU 302 of the control module 212, and the microphone 334 is a componentof the control module 212. However, in other examples (not illustrated),the voice control module 329 could execute on the CPU 302 of the mobilecomputing device 104, the microphone 334 could be embedded into anycomponent of the retrofit system/kit or BIO system, including the mobilecomputing device 230 and/or the actuator module 214, the microphone 334could be an external microphone that functions via a wired or wirelessconnection to the control module 212, the actuator module 214, themobile computing device 230, or any control panel or user interfacecomponent of the system, or any combination of the above mentionedpossibilities. Similarly, in the illustrated example, these voicecontrol components are shown with respect to the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3. However, in other examples (not illustrated), any of theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5-8, 10, and 11 could also include anyof the voice control components and functionality.

In general, FIGS. 10 and 11 are illustrations of the system forretrofitting the legacy BIO device with the camera adaptation, accordingto embodiments of the present invention, in which the reflected andscattered light from the viewing target 10 is directed to the camera 210without using the beam splitter. The retrofit system is similar to theembodiment described with respect to FIG. 2. As before, the systemcomprises the camera adaptation assembly 205 attached to the legacy BIOdevice 100 in place of the teaching mirror and the camera actuatormodule in a common housing with the condensing lens. The camera 210,camera actuator module 214, control module 212, and image viewing deviceall function in the same way and have the same features andcharacteristics as the respective components as described with respectto FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and/or 9.

Now, however, there is no beam splitter. Instead, the camera positioningmechanism secures the camera in a position with respect to the BIOoptics 112 (e.g., close to the entrance aperture or viewing aperture ofthe BIO optics) such that light from the viewing target is captured bythe camera directly or via the BIO optics along a substantially similarviewing path as that of the light reflected from the viewing target 10into the BIO entrance aperture 120. More particularly, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 10, the camera positioning mechanism 220 secures thecamera 210 close to the viewing aperture of the BIO optics such thatlight from the viewing target into the BIO entrance aperture 120 isdirected via the BIO optics 112 through the viewing aperture both to theeye of the user and to the camera along substantially similar viewingpaths. In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the camera positioningmechanism 220 secures the camera 210 close to the entrance aperture ofthe BIO optics such that the light from the viewing target is reflectedboth into the BIO entrance aperture and to the camera alongsubstantially similar viewing paths. In both cases, the substantiallysimilar viewing paths are such that a substantially similar view of theviewing target as that presented to the user of the BIO system is alsoprovided via the camera. For example, the camera positioning mechanismsecures the camera as close as possible to the entrance or viewingaperture of the BIO optics but without disrupting the viewing path forthe user of the BIO system.

In these examples, the viewing direction of the camera 212 issubstantially similar to the viewing direction or optical axis definedby the optics of optical system 112. In particular, the angle betweenthe viewing direction of the camera 212 and the optical axis defined bythe optics of optical system 112 is less than 20 degrees and ispreferably less than 10 degrees.

In a related example, the camera positioning mechanism 220 also securesa small mirror close to the entrance aperture of the BIO optics suchthat the light from the viewing target is coupled into the BIO entranceaperture but some is reflected by the small mirror to the camera 210.Thus, the camera will have substantially the same viewing direction asthe BIO optics 112.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 have the advantage ofproviding a full signal with maximal light to both the camera and to thedoctor, without potential distortion caused by the beam splitter (e.g.,reflections).

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for retrofitting a legacy indirectophthalmoscope device with a camera adaptation, the system comprising:an assembly for housing a beam splitter and a camera, the assemblycomprising an attachment mechanism for attaching to the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device; the beam splitter for allowing a portion of lightfrom a viewing target to enter an entrance aperture of the legacyindirect ophthalmoscope and reflecting another portion of the light fromthe viewing target; and the camera for capturing the reflected portionof the light from the viewing target.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a control module for receiving captured image data from thecamera.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control module comprises awireless interface for broadcasting the captured image data to an imageviewing device, which displays the captured image data on a display ofthe image viewing device.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controlmodule comprises non-volatile memory for storing the captured imagedata.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power interface forsupplying power to the camera from a power source for the legacyindirect ophthalmoscope device via a power cable, a splitter, and apower interface of the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises a camera positioningmechanism for securing the camera in a position with respect to the beamsplitter such that the reflected portion of light is directed to thecamera.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator modulefor activating storage of image data captured via the camera innon-volatile memory, the actuator module comprising an activationmechanism for receiving input from a user, wherein the actuator moduleactivates the storage of the image data by generating activation signalsbased on the received user input.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein theactuator module comprises a wireless interface for wirelesslytransmitting the activation signals to a control module or an imageviewing device, which store the captured image data in the non-volatilememory in response to receiving the activation signals from the actuatormodule.
 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an actuatorassembly for housing the actuator module together with a condensing lensoperated by the user.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachmentmechanism is configured to be compatible with a mounting bracket forattaching a teaching mirror adaptation to the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising amicrophone for capturing audio data and a voice control module foractivating storage of image data captured via the camera in non-volatilememory based on voice commands recognized by the voice control module inthe captured audio data.
 12. A method for retrofitting a legacy indirectophthalmoscope device with a camera adaptation, the method comprising:attaching an assembly housing a beam splitter and a camera to the legacyindirect ophthalmoscope device via an attachment mechanism of theassembly; the beam splitter allowing a portion of light from a viewingtarget to enter an entrance aperture of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope and reflecting another portion of the light from theviewing target; and capturing the reflected portion of the light fromthe viewing target via the camera.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising receiving captured image data from the camera by a controlmodule.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising broadcasting thecaptured image data to an image viewing device via a wireless interfaceof the control module and displaying the captured image data on adisplay of the image viewing device.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising storing the captured image data in non-volatile memory of thecontrol module.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising supplyingpower to the camera from a power source for the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device via a power interface for the camera, a powercable, a splitter, and a power interface of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprisingsecuring the camera in a position with respect to the beam splitter suchthat the reflected portion of light is directed to the camera via acamera positioning mechanism of the assembly.
 18. The method of claim12, further comprising activating storage of image data captured via thecamera in non-volatile memory via an actuator module by receiving inputfrom a user via an activation mechanism of the actuator module andactivating the storage of the image data by generating activationsignals based on the received user input.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising wirelessly transmitting the activation signals to acontrol module or an image viewing device via a wireless interface ofthe actuator module, which store the captured image data in thenon-volatile memory in response to receiving the activation signals fromthe actuator module.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprisinghousing the actuator module together with a condensing lens operated bythe user via an actuator assembly.
 21. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising configuring the attachment mechanism to be compatible with amounting bracket for attaching a teaching mirror adaptation to thelegacy indirect ophthalmoscope device.
 22. The method of claim 12,further comprising activating storage of image data captured via thecamera in non-volatile memory via a voice control module by receivingcaptured audio data via a microphone and activating the storage of theimage data based on voice commands recognized by the voice controlmodule in the captured audio data.
 23. A camera adaptation retrofit kitfor a legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device, the kit comprising: a beamsplitter for allowing a portion of light from a viewing target to enteran entrance aperture of the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope andreflecting another portion of the light from the viewing target; acamera for capturing the reflected portion of the light from the viewingtarget; an assembly for housing the beam splitter and the camera; and aplurality of interchangeable attachment mechanisms for attaching theassembly to the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device, wherein eachattachment mechanism is configured to be compatible with a differenttype of mounting bracket for attaching a teaching mirror adaptation to alegacy indirect ophthalmoscope device.
 24. A system for retrofitting alegacy indirect ophthalmoscope device with a camera adaptation, thesystem comprising: an assembly comprising an attachment mechanism forattaching to the legacy indirect ophthalmoscope device; and a camera forcapturing images from a viewing target of the legacy indirectophthalmoscope device.
 25. The system of claim 24, further comprising amirror for reflecting light from the viewing target to the camera. 26.The system of claim 24, wherein an angle between a viewing direction ofthe camera and an optical axis defined by an optical system of thelegacy indirect ophthalmoscope device is less than 20 degrees.